1999 Honda CRV Weak spark

1999 HONDA CRV
125,000 MILES • 4 CYL • AWD • AUTOMATIC
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KEUNG71182
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I have not been able to start my vehicle. i replaced the distributor, cap, rotor, plugs and wires. it sounds like it wants to start but when it does, it just chuggs at low rpm. when i try to give it gas, it doesn't do anything. i pulled off the cap and check spark at the coil, and it was good( maybe a little weak). but when i check it at the wires, it is very weak. the car died on me while driving up hill. the timing belt is still there because i can see the cam moving. could the timing maybe jumped a couple of teeth?

thanks,
George
Aug 8, 2008 at 7:24 PM
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KHLOW2008
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Hi George,

If the sparks seems weak, the ignition coil is faulty and a replacement is necessary.
Aug 9, 2008 at 4:11 PM
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KEUNG71182
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i have changed it out with a known good one.
Aug 9, 2008 at 6:40 PM
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KHLOW2008
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Hi George,

Have you tested the fuel pressure at fuel rail?

If the pump is working, then regualor might be bad. If pump does not work when ignition switch it turned on, it could be the pump or main relay that is faulty.
Aug 10, 2008 at 2:45 AM
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KEUNG71182
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i have fuel pressure. i even tried to spray some starting fluid in the throttle body. the compression is low. 110 118 118 118. i am going to do a leak down test, but would a timing belt that jumped a tooth make the compression that low?
Aug 10, 2008 at 12:52 PM
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KHLOW2008
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Hi George,

Normally a skipped tooth would not cause low compression, weak rings would. Do a wet test by pumping some engine oil into cylinders through plug holes, crank engine to get oil distributed and test compression again.

Had the engine overheated or been lying around for a long time?
Aug 11, 2008 at 7:35 AM
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KEUNG71182
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okay, i tested the coil and its good. i tested the crank sensor, and its good. im not getting a ignition signal from the ecu to the distributor. bad computer?
Aug 14, 2008 at 9:44 PM
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KHLOW2008
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Hi keung71182,

The distributor provides a signal to the ECU, not the other way round. Most probably the ICM is faulty or the coil sparks are too weak.
Aug 15, 2008 at 7:03 AM
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KEUNG71182
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on the diagram it shows the igntion output signal coming from the ecu to the distributor. thats basically what i went off of. doesn't the ecu have to tell the distributor to fire when it has all the signals from the other sensors( ie. crank, cam, tdc)?
Aug 15, 2008 at 8:14 AM
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KHLOW2008
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Hi George,

If you mean the A21 and A22 terminal of ECM is not providing any voltage with ignition switch on, the ICM is faulty.
Aug 15, 2008 at 8:38 AM
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KEUNG71182
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it was the computer that was bad. i installed a new one, and it works great. it is the yellow/green wire sending the signal to the icm.
Aug 15, 2008 at 10:26 PM